Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire spoke with visible pain and frustration as he addressed the club’s crippling injury crisis following yet another major blow to his squad.

After already losing several key stars for extended periods, the Broncos have suffered further devastation with rising star Aublix Tawha becoming the latest player forced to undergo surgery. The young forward suffered a fractured eye socket and is expected to miss more than a month of action.

“This is a massive blow for the Broncos,” Maguire said, shaking his head. “We’ve been hit incredibly hard this season. It feels like every time we start to build some momentum, another important player goes down.”

The Broncos’ 2026 season, which began with high expectations as defending NRL champions, has been severely derailed by an unprecedented injury nightmare. The club is currently dealing with one of the worst injury lists in the competition.

The most devastating loss remains superstar fullback Reece Walsh, who underwent surgery in early April for a fractured cheekbone and orbital (eye socket) injury. Walsh is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, robbing the Broncos of their most explosive attacking weapon and biggest match-winner.

Hooker Blake Mozer is also sidelined for around 6 weeks after suffering a broken jaw. The young rake’s absence has created major problems in the middle of the field and in dummy-half play.

Star prop Payne Haas, one of the most dominant forwards in the NRL, is out for 6-8 weeks with a Grade 3 MCL tear — a complete rupture of the knee ligament. While surgery may not be required, his long recovery period is a significant setback for Brisbane’s forward pack.

In a frightening medical development, prop Corey Jensen remains in hospital after being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot on the lung). His return date remains unknown, and his health is the club’s primary concern.

Adding to the crisis, experienced halfback Ben Hunt and outside back Jesse Arthars are also sidelined with injuries, further stretching Brisbane’s squad depth to breaking point.

The latest name to join the casualty ward is highly-rated young forward Aublix Tawha. The emerging talent, widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects at the club and a future “soul” of the Broncos forward pack, suffered a fractured eye socket while playing for feeder club Souths Logan Magpies.

Tawha has already undergone successful surgery and is expected to miss at least four to six weeks. His absence is particularly painful because many insiders viewed him as a breakout star in 2026 — a powerful, high-work-rate forward with enormous potential.

Coach Maguire admitted the injury to Tawha hurt deeply. “Aublix has been working so hard and really stepping up this year. To lose him now is tough, especially with everything else we’re dealing with. But he’s a tough kid and we’ll get him right.”

The sheer volume of injuries has forced Michael Maguire to blood several young and inexperienced players earlier than planned. While some have shown promise, the lack of continuity and star power has clearly affected results on the field.

Broncos fans have grown increasingly concerned, with many questioning whether the club can mount a successful title defence while missing so many key personnel. The injury crisis has also sparked debate about player workload, medical management, and the brutal physical demands of modern NRL.

Club officials are reportedly working closely with the NRL to secure injury exemptions and additional squad top-ups, but the immediate future remains challenging.

Despite the mounting setbacks, Maguire remains defiant. “We’re not making excuses. Every team goes through tough periods. Our job is to keep competing and keep fighting. The boys who are out there are giving everything, and we’re proud of their effort.”

Reece Walsh, still recovering at home, has been sending regular messages of support to his teammates. According to sources close to the fullback, he is determined to return stronger and hungrier than ever once cleared.

The Broncos now face a critical stretch of the season without their best players. With several tough matches coming up, the depth of the squad will be tested like never before.

Michael Maguire’s emotional press conference served as a sobering reminder of how fragile success in professional rugby league can be. What started as a promising campaign for the defending premiers has turned into a test of resilience, character, and squad depth.

For now, the Broncos must navigate the storm without their biggest stars. The road back to premiership contention will be long and difficult — but if there’s one thing Brisbane has shown over the years, it’s the ability to fight through adversity.

The entire rugby league community will be watching closely to see how the injury-ravaged Broncos respond in the coming weeks.

As Michael Maguire said with heavy emotion: “This is a massive blow… but we’re still the Broncos. We’ll keep fighting.”